IllustrationEXCESSIVE USE OF OIL FOR LIFE OF CAR. HEAD GASKET HAS NOW BLOWN
1995 Saturn Sl
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Sl years
Owner complaints for the 1995 Saturn Sl are substantially higher than the model-year median of 171.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sl years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 40 of 355 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Seats. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
75 crash reports6 fire reports46 injury reports
What owners actually said
355 reportsWHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START. ALL ELECTRICAL DOORS LOCKED IN POSITIONS, OCCUPANT COULD NOT EXIT VEHICLE/DOORS COULD NOT BE MANUALLY OPENED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO OTHER PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY LOST STEERING, I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE MAIN ROAD BY COASTING. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND MINE AT THE TIME. THE STEERING WAS NON- EXISTENT AT THAT TIME. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM AT $465.00. I LOOKED ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE AND FOUND A…
Read full complaint
UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY LOST STEERING, I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE MAIN ROAD BY COASTING. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND MINE AT THE TIME. THE STEERING WAS NON- EXISTENT AT THAT TIME. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM AT $465.00. I LOOKED ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE AND FOUND A RECALL RELATIVE TO MY SITUATION. NHTSA ID# 94V170000, COMPONENT STEERING MANUAL GEARBOX, MFG CAMPAIGN# 95C01 1995 SATURN SL. THE NOTE ON THIS RECALL IS THAT THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE VEHICLE'S MANUAL STEERING ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE DEALER WAS EXTREMELY UNCOOPERATIVE AND STATED THEY DON'T HAVE A RECALL FOR MY CAR AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY. THEY SAID THEY DON'T CARE WHAT NHTSA SAYS ABOUT THIS RECALL IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE STEERING. PLEASE ASSIST ME IN THIS MATTER. I HAVE REQUESTED THE OLD STEERING PART. I WILL HOLD ON TO IT ONCE RECIEVED. I WANT MY MONEY BACK FROM SATURN AND OTHERS TO BE SAFE WITH SIMILAR SAFETY THREATENING ISSUES WITH THE 1995 SATURN SL SEDAN. *AK
REAR WINDOW SHATTERED BY ITSELF, THROWING GLASS BOTH INWARD AND OUTWARD OF VEHICLE WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. REAR WINDOW WAS NOT TAMPERED WITH AND NO DEFROSTER/ HEATER OR AIR CONDITIONER WAS BEING USED AT THE TIME. CONSUMER STATED THAT IT ALMOST FELT LIKE IT EXPLODED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ALL OF SUDDEN HEARD A BANG AND VEHICLE LOST POWER. PULLED OVER. BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONTACTED DEALER. ALTHOUGH EXACT CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED, FIRE DEPT BELIEVES THAT IT WAS ELECTRICAL, AND MAINTENANCE RELATED. *AK *ML
JUST BOUGHT CAR FROM MAJOR DEALERSHIP 5 DAYS AGO. ENGINE TICKING AND OIL LEVEL LOW. I ONLY PUT 175 MILES ON CAR AND ITS IN THE SHOP. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT, AS STATED IN A SATURN RECALL, HOWEVER VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *MJS
INSIDE DRIVER'S SEAT MATERIAL WOULD SHIFT UNEXPECTEDLY, NOT STATIONERY. THIS CAUSED PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD BE TILTED TO THE RIGHT SIDE, AND IT WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.*AK
SPARK PLUGS FAILED AT 30000 MILES. REPLACED PISTON RINGS. NOW AT 70000 MILES, SAME PROBLEM. REPAIRED AT SATURN OF RENTON, NOT BELLEVUE. *AK
ENGINE RUNNING LOUD WHEN OIL CHECKED IT WAS VERY LOW HAD JUST GOTTEN OIL CHANGE. GOT ANOTHER OIL CHANGE TO BE ON SAFE SIDE. ABOUT 2000 MILES AFTER THAT OIL CHANGE THERE WAS ALMOST NO OIL LEFT. *AK
Official recalls
399V045000 · Seats
Mar 12, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER GEAR TEETH MAY WEAR EXCESSIVELY THROUGH REPEATED USE, AND COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BACK TO SLIP PARTIALLY REARWARD WHEN FORCE IS APPLIED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT RECLINER MECHANISMS.
94V217000 · Power Train:clutch Assembly:pedal/hand Lever(motorcycle)
Nov 8, 1994
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE PARK LOCK CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO SHIFT FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED, OR REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN A POSITION OTHER THAN "PARK." THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 114, "THEFT PROTECTION."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: CONSUMERS ARE BEING ASKED TO INSPECT THE PARK LOCK CABLE. IF IT DOES NOT PERFORM CORRECTLY, DEALERS WILL MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS.
94V170000 · Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)
Sep 14, 1994
THE STEERING GEAR PINION SHAFT WAS IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED CAUSING THE SHAFT TO FRACTURE DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FRACTURE OF THE STEERING GEAR PINION SHAFT CAUSES COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL STEERING ASSEMBLY.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3RQ00005 · Front Seat Back Can Recline Or Collapse
Opened Feb 16, 2000 · Closed Aug 19, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
No summary supplied.
EA95003 · Cruise Control Failures
Opened Feb 24, 1995 · Closed May 31, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
THIS INVESTIGATION DOCUMENTED HTE FUNCTIONAL ABERATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM.MOST OF THE MALFUNCTIONS INVOLVED FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO PROPERLY REGULATE VEHICLE SPEED WHEN ENGAGED, FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO ENGAGE, OR SELF-DISENGAGEMENT OF THE SYSTEM. THESE PROBLEMS WERE INVESTIGATED AND STEPS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER TO REMEDY THEIR OCCURRENCES.SERVICE PROCEDURES WERE ISSUED FOR VEHICLES IN USE, AND A DESIGN MODIFICATION MADE FOR NEW VEHICLES.NO CONFIRMED ALLEGATIONS OF FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISENGAGE UPON COMMAND WERE IDENTIFIED.IMPROVED QUALITY CONTROL PROCEDURES AND DESIGN MODIFICATIONSIN THE SYSTEM WERE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE A MORE CONSISTENT LEVEL OF SYSTEM PERFORMANCE.THE DETAILS OF THESE FINDINGS AND THE RESULTING CONCLUSIONS ARE CONTAINED INTHE SUBJECT ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND WAS NOT IDENTIFIED AT EHIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
PE94079 · Cruise Control Failure
Opened Nov 7, 1994 · Closed Feb 24, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
There is no summary currently available